Lansford driver facing DUI count

Coaldale police have charged a Lansford man with two counts of driving under the influence (DUI), failing to keep within a single lane and speeding.

Robert James Stackhouse, 29, of 117 E. Patterson St., was charged after he was pulled over at 2:40 a.m. Jan. 30 on SR209.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua, here's what happened:

Officer Joseph Anthony David was on patrol and traveling east when he saw a silver Kia Reo driving in front of him near First St. The vehicle accelerated to about 65 mph in a 45 zone and then drove off the roadway, completely onto the shoulder, between First and Anthracite sts.

The officer activated his lights and siren just past Anthracite Street. The vehicle continued east into Lansford, made a right onto Parkway, then a right into the Lansford swimming pool parking lot.

It continued halfway through the parking lot before stopping.

David approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver, identified by his license as Stackhouse. He could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on Stackhouse's breath and noticed he had bloodshot eyes.

David called fellow Officer Charles Blesse, who administered field sobriety tests, which Stackhouse failed. Blesse also administered a portable breath test, which showed a positive reading.

David arrested Stackhouse and took him to the police station for a Datamaster breath test. Stackhouse was read the chemical test warnings and submitted to the breath test.

He was then released to his wife, who took him home.

The breath test administered by Blesse at 3:30 a.m. revealed Stackhouse had a blood-alcohol level of 0.178 percent. The drunken driving threshold is 0.08 percent.